PHOTO GALLERY: ED staff completes cycling adventure in China

Express Data employee, Ray Lee has completed the Oxfam Challenge, a cycling adventure across rural China.

The challenge, which took place last month, started in Yunnan, in south-west China and included Tiger Leaping Gorge, the Yangtze, ancient towns and villages, such as World Heritage listed Lijiang and the lakeside town of Dali.

“I have completed the cycling challenge successfully and what an experience it has been, one that is definitely one of the highlights of my life,” said Lee.

“Now it’s over, it’s hard to believe,” he added.

Lee, who is a response specialist for Cisco, organised a number of fundraising events to raise money for the charity including a night of Classic Rock music at The Harp Irish Pub, in Tempe.

The rock night featured three bands including Les Gock, Chris Pailthorpe and Neil Smith former members of legendary Australian bands Hush and AC/DC.

Two of the bands also included IT industry employees; Lee, Harris Loefti and Emma Broadbent from Symantec, Des Seeto and Anthony Miller from Cisco plus Jeff Sheard ex-Cisco now a consultant.

Lee, whose parents are originally from China, wanted to do more for the country after the devastation of the Sichuan earthquake in May this year.

“The tragic earthquake there made me realise how lucky I am and I decided to look for ways to help make some sort of difference to the lives of others less fortunate,” said Lee.

Express Data is matching all employee contributions to Lee’s fundraising efforts and so far he had raised about $8,000 but the final amount is yet to be counted. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter